Soul Daddy arrived on the American fast casual dining scene the same way the reality show responsible for its existence arrived on television: haltingly, half-heartedly, with no panache and no clear vision.
Soul Daddy, which in May “won” America’s Next Great Restaurant (perhaps the most bloodless reality show since CSPAN’s broadcast of the HUD confirmation hearings), went on to open three outposts (one each in LA, NY and Minneapolis). Last week, Soul Daddy suddenly and “unexpectedly” closed. Unexpected if you had never watched the show or eaten at the restaurant. Totally predictable if you had.